It Ends with Us, #2
It Starts with Us
by Colleen Hoover
Contents
Chapter Thirty-Six: Lily
Overview
Lily settles into Atlas’s home and begins experiencing the quiet practical realities of blending their lives, including informal responsibility for Josh. Josh’s easy support of Theo at a vulnerable moment reinforces the healthier family environment forming around Atlas and Lily.
The chapter also deepens Lily’s sense of continuity with Atlas when Lily’s mother reveals she always remembered him and once witnessed his compassion firsthand. This reframes Atlas not as a new escape from Lily’s past, but as someone Lily’s mother silently accepted long ago.
Summary
After moving into Atlas’s house, Lily rests on what she now thinks of as their couch. Because Atlas is working late, Lily spends the evening with Josh and Theo while Lily’s mother has Emerson, and Lily begins adjusting to the idea that she and Atlas will now share daily life even when their schedules only overlap briefly.
Josh and Theo finish watching Finding Nemo, which leads Theo to realize Atlas’s comment to Lily about reaching the shore was not a direct quote but a sentimental reference to enduring hardship. Theo then prepares to leave when Theo’s father arrives, and Theo awkwardly reveals plans to attend a pride parade. Josh responds casually and supportively, asks to stay over with Theo, and Lily allows it while noting that she and Atlas will need to learn how to share parenting decisions for Josh and Emerson.
Alone in the house for the first time, Lily explores the rooms and sits outside, imagining a future garden in Atlas’s unusually spacious city backyard. Atlas video-calls Lily from work, and Lily tells Atlas that Josh went to Theo’s. Atlas accepts the decision easily, asks about Emerson, and softly admits that Atlas is starting to miss Emerson, which Lily recognizes as another sign of Atlas’s growing love for Lily’s daughter.
Lily’s mother returns with sleepy Emerson and joins Lily outside. When Lily’s mother comments that the backyard seems perfect for Lily’s garden and wonders if Atlas chose the house hoping Lily would return, Lily realizes her mother remembers Atlas from Lily’s teenage years in Maine. Lily asks why her mother never mentioned it, and her mother explains that she thought Lily would bring up the past if Lily wanted to discuss it.
Lily’s mother then reveals that she once found teenage Lily and Atlas asleep together on the couch. She followed Atlas outside planning to warn him away, but Atlas unexpectedly hugged her with what felt like compassion and understanding. Lily’s mother says she never interfered because she knew Lily was hiding Atlas from Lily’s father, not from her, and because she was glad Lily had someone. The story reassures Lily, who texts Atlas a loving message after her mother leaves.
Who Appears
- Lily BloomSettles into Atlas’s home and reflects on blending households, parenting, love, and her past.
- Atlas CorriganWorks late, checks in by video, and quietly admits he is missing Emerson.
- JoshAtlas’s brother; casually supports Theo and asks Lily permission to stay over.
- TheoJosh’s friend; reveals plans for a pride parade and receives Josh’s accepting response.
- Jenny BloomLily’s mother; reveals she remembered Atlas and once received a compassionate hug from him.
- EmersonLily’s sleepy daughter; returns with Lily’s mother and is increasingly important to Atlas.